Learn me up on some budget platform pedals !!!!
 

So i have this commuter type bike from Craigslist that I'm fidgeting around with, and I'm thinking about replacing the low end factory pedals. I'm looking to stick with platforms, and aren't concerned with weight, or aggressive grip, or needing something designed to take a major beating, just want something that will spin smoothly for a good long while, and not break the bank.
I put some Race face Chesters on my Mtn bike a while back, and I can get a set of them for a little over $40, but that's the upper end of what I'm hoping to spend, and less would be even better.
Years ago, I had good luck with numerous pairs of Wellgos, but I'm sure there are others that are inexpensive and do the job ( like Expedo, Rock Bros ? etc.).
As always, any good info is much appreciated......

Check out Free Agent BMX pedals. My commuter gets the pro alloy, typically had at the LBS for under twenty bucks.

The Raceface Chesters that you already know about are my go to answer whenever this question comes up.

You can get cheaper but they won't spin as well nor take a hit from a curb as well. For the $40 price tag, you can't beat the Chesters.

You can get nicer pedals, but they cost more than $40.

You can get cheaper pedals but they aren't as good of a value for your $1

I like the plastic-bodied BMX pedals like the Animal 'Hamilton' or Odyssey 'Twisted'
Light-ish, decent grip, and serviceable bearings. You can find them all day long for $20, sometimes as low as $10, if you don't mind funky colors, although the plain black are good if you're trying to keep the bike low-key.


http://0354a6b.netsolhost.com/produc...ltonpedals.jpg

Same price range as the Chesters, but I REALLY love the MKS Lambda pedals.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9cb619292f.jpg

I was just going to recommend the Race Face Chesters.

I have several pair of Azonic Shoo-In that rotate around my budget bikes. One pair got wonky after ~6,000 miles of heavy riding, but I repacked the bearings and it was cool again. If you want to go the foot retention route, they support velcro straps but unfortunately not traditional clips and straps.

I go with plastic primarily because it's reasonably light. Plastic pins will not grip shoes as well; OTOH, they don't eat up dress shoe soles as fast.

$18.40. https://www.jensonusa.com/Azonic-Sho...SABEgJvq_D_BwE

MKS 'Dutch' 3000R (reflector) rubber block pedals are fully servivable , and so you can pull them apart
add more grease re adjust the bearings and they should be good enough
to be inherited by your grandchildren ..

Wellgo MG-5's for my bikes. Light and they grip well.

VP Vice is alloy-bodied, reliable, thin and grippy. They also look pretty nice. $32:
https://www.amazon.com/VP-Components.../dp/B006ZH1J5W

I just put RockBros on a bike. $19.99 at amazon.com ... So far so good.

Hey guys, I went with the Race Face Chesters after all. I'm liking the set I already have, and Jenson matched the best price I could find of $40.14 (and no tax as with Amazon), so I tossed in a Shimano Mtn shifter that I wanted (that was also the best price around), so I hit the free-ship minimum.
After much waffling and hand-wringing on colors, I decided to just stick with the bike's color, keep it low key, and went with basic black.
Many thanks to all for weighing in, I appreciate it........:thumb:

I’ve bought a couple sets of these - one set for my grandson’s road bike and a set for one of my bikes. I got the smaller road style pedals (R87) and like them a lot. Good price, too.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/R87-M86-Bic...jofMeWEjfW-7fg

I've been happy enough with Avenir "resin" pedals that I've put them on 3 bikes, and have gotten several years of service out of them. Beware they come in two thread sizes. They're knobbly enough to avoid slippage in wet weather or snow.

Buy the real thing don't buy fakes and knockoffs. RockBros just takes the designs from well known high quality manufacturers and turns it into low end knock off junk.

I was looking at rock bros platforms on amazon - however, 14% (1in 7) of the reviews gave them a 1 star (lowest possible - amazon won’t allow zero stars). In almost every case, the spindle snapped, in one instance dumping the rider into traffic, where he was almost run over. I decided to pass on those pedals.

Okay. Understood. I replaced the RockBros. pedals with Speicialized Bennies Pedals. I had a coupon for 20% off. Nice pedals but now someone is going to rail on me about buying Specialized and I shouldn't because they sue everyone. Go figure....

I would say this.... The quality of Specialized products is outstanding. They believe in quality and that's what they deliver.

there's a brand called fooker that uses the same exact mold as the chesters for their platforms and they are quite a bit cheaper (about $20 usd). i've been running a pair on my drop bar hybrid for a while now and love them.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2211bd9e73.jpg

I'm going on three years with cheap Stolen Brand Thermolite pedals, $15. No complaints. They're tough and do what I want in a city hybrid for casual rides and errands.

I like these Wellgo KC015. They were $22 shipped from AliExpress and weigh about 240 grams for the pair.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7db0c7385a.jpg

If you're looking for sealed, the HT PA12 Nano https://www.bike24.com/1.php?content...42,91;page=105

or from XLC the PD-C07 which are unsealed https://www.xxcycle.com/pedal-xlc-ci...lastic,,en.php
or the XLC PD-C08 which are sealed https://www.xxcycle.com/xlc-pedal-pd-c08,,en.php

I have the HT on my mountain bike and sealed and unsealed XLC pedals on other bikes.

Post 12. OP bought pedals.

doesn't mean a thread about budget platform pedals should just wrap up :P

Oh I separate their legal department from their products as they make some excellent products.

The legal department is a bit more litigious then needed on certain issues and really should have backed down more quickly especially on the Roubaix thing (a town in France no less) or just not gone for it in the first place.

The Bennies are nice pedals. A lot of what Specialized does it pretty nice. Aside from the Alibi, Pitch and the old Como 2.0s that break motor mounts too much. That and the Mindset headset was pretty terrible and I could probably find some other stuff but overall they do some neat stuff. The Langster got me into fixed gear riding and I cannot wait to build up my Sequoia Pro Module frame.

Or any other MKS pedals. They are great!